Hold Calculator
How To Use This Calculator
The hold calculator shows you how much the sportsbook is taking from any two-way market. Enter the odds for both sides to see the hold percentage, implied probabilities, and fair no-vig odds.
Input the odds for the first side of the market.
Input the odds for the opposing side of the same market.
See the hold %, implied probabilities, and fair odds.
Check different sportsbooks to find the lowest hold.
What is Hold (Vig/Juice)?
The hold (also called vig, juice, margin, or overround) is the sportsbook's built-in profit margin. It is the amount by which the combined implied probabilities exceed 100%.
A standard -110/-110 market has a hold of about 4.76%. This means for every $100 wagered, the sportsbook expects to keep $4.76 in profit regardless of which side wins.
Hold = (1/odds₁ + 1/odds₂ - 1) × 100Common Hold Percentages
| Market | Hold |
|---|---|
| -105/-105 | 2.44% |
| -110/-110 | 4.76% |
| -115/-105 | 4.88% |
| -120/-110 | 7.05% |
| +100/+100 | 0.00% |
Step-by-Step Hold Calculation
A sportsbook offers -110 on both sides of a moneyline market. What is the hold?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Two books can offer the same odds on your side but different holds. The book with lower hold gives you better expected value because the fair odds are more favorable.
Books often load more vig on one side than the other. A -115/-105 market has 4.88% total hold, but the -115 side is paying more vig than the -105 side.
Props, alt spreads, and alt totals often carry significantly higher hold (8-15%) than main markets (3-5%). Always check the hold before betting alt lines.
A low-hold market is not automatically +EV. Hold tells you how much the book is charging, but you still need an accurate win probability to determine if the bet has positive expected value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good hold percentage?
Sharp sportsbooks like Pinnacle typically have holds of 2-3% on major markets. Average US sportsbooks range from 4-6%. Anything above 8% is unfavorable. The lower the hold, the closer the odds are to true fair value.
What does a negative hold mean?
A negative hold means the combined implied probabilities add up to less than 100%, creating an arbitrage opportunity. You can bet both sides and guarantee a profit. Negative holds are rare and usually disappear within minutes.
Why do different sportsbooks have different holds?
Each sportsbook sets its own margins based on its business model. Sharp books like Pinnacle make money on volume with low margins. Recreational books charge higher holds because their customers are less price-sensitive. This is why line shopping matters.
How does hold affect parlays?
Hold compounds across parlay legs. If each leg has a 5% hold, a 3-leg parlay effectively has a much higher total vig embedded in it. This is why using the lowest-hold lines for each leg of your parlay is important.
Is vig the same as juice?
Yes. Vig (vigorish), juice, hold, margin, and overround all refer to the same concept — the sportsbook's commission. Different regions use different terms, but they all describe the percentage the book takes from the market.
Does the hold calculator work for 3-way markets?
This calculator is designed for two-way markets (moneylines, spreads, totals). For 3-way markets (win/draw/win in soccer), the formula is the same but with three terms: (1/odds₁ + 1/odds₂ + 1/odds₃ - 1) × 100. Use our No-Vig Calculator for devigging any market.
Pro Tip: Use Hold to Find Sharp Lines
Sharp sportsbooks like Pinnacle consistently have the lowest hold. If a recreational book offers odds with a lower hold than Pinnacle on a specific market, it often means that book has a mispriced line — which can be a +EV opportunity. Use hold as a signal for line shopping.